Glenda Ritz speaks to rotary club

Glenda Ritz wants to change education in Indiana by reaching every student.

Ritz, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction, met with members of the Bloomington Rotary Club Tuesday at the Indiana Memorial Union to discuss her goals for improving education in Indiana and problems with Gov. Mike Pence’s Center for
Education and Career Innovation.

Rotary Club member Jim Bright said since Ritz has been in the news frequently and since Rotary has a strong history with education, she was invited to speak to members.

“Education is one of the core causes of Rotary,” Bright said. “We give scholarships to Ivy Tech and high school students, and our nonprofit Teachers’ Warehouse gives supplies to classrooms that need them.”

Ritz filed a lawsuit against the State Board of Education on Oct. 22 alleging that members of the board drafted a letter requesting Indiana’s Legislative Services Agency perform calculations to determine the 2012-2013 A-F grades for Indiana schools.

Ritz said the letter was a violation of Indiana’s Open Door Law, according to a press release from the Indiana Department of Education. The lawsuit was dismissed by Marion Circuit Court Judge Louis Rosenberg, who cited the fact that Ritz would only be able to be represented by Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller. The Board would also have to be represented by Zoeller, which could prompt ethical concerns.

Ritz also voiced concerns over the A-F grading system, saying it can tarnish students who attend poorly graded schools.

“I’m all about accountability, but there’s a difference between that and labeling,” she said. “When you give a grade to a school, you’re not labeling that school, you’re labeling its students.”

Ritz said her student-focused mission is one of equity and high quality.

“I’m all about meeting the needs of the children,” she said. “We’re embarking on changing the system.”

Ritz said she wants to build a culture of readers in Indiana, and said she is excited about career pathways the DOE is implementing for students. However, she also said she has concerns about the current system.

Ritz voiced problems with the proficiency levels of students in reading and mathematics for college and careers.

“We haven’t told kids where they need to be,” she said. “Employers want a wide range of math skills, but we’ve been teaching just algebra. There’s a huge disconnect.”

Rotary members asked questions about Ritz’s recent lawsuit and conflict with the SBOE, Pence and the CECI.

“The challenge is with the governor’s new education agency,” Ritz said. “There are now two agencies, mine and the CECI. That is a conflict.”

She said the CECI assuming authority over the IDOE, coupled with the SBOE drafting a letter to take over her agency’s role in A-F grades are things she won’t allow.

“The Department of Education has clear authority in policy,” Ritz said. “I intend to keep that in place.”

Ritz said the conflicts she has been facing will come to a head in the legislature. Either the CECI will gain power or be reduced in scope. She said she looks forward to meeting with Gov. Mike Pence to discuss the issues.

“I will not compromise in having another agency take over mine,” she said.

Follow reporter Stephen Kroll on Twitter @stephenkroll1.